Memorial to Pennsylvania police officer killed in the line of duty vandalized again

The memorial for Pittsburgh Police Officer Paul Sciullo who was killed in the line of duty in 2009, has been vandalized again. (KDKA)

The memorial for Pittsburgh Police Officer Paul Sciullo who was killed in the line of duty in 2009, has been vandalized again.

There are two memorial plaques with Sciullo’s name and a flagpole that flies an American flag and a Thin Blue Line flag on the front porch of the home of Sciullo’s parents in Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, KDKA reported.

The first incident of vandalism occurred in June when somebody spray-painted the plaques mounted to the porch’s railing and stole the Thin Blue Line flag.

On Friday, Aug. 23, the officer’s parents awoke to find both flags missing and a sticker placed on the memorial encouraging people to shoot at autonomous vehicles, WTAE reported.

The parents, who just had the 10th anniversary of their son’s murder, said that this incident was over the line and they felt heartsick over it.

After responding to a domestic disturbance call in Stanton Heights neighborhood on April 4, 2009, Sciullo and another officer arrived at the home and were talking to a woman inside the residence when a man wearing a bulletproof vest shot Sciullo in the face with a shotgun. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 36, and two other officers were shot dead in the gunfight.

The gunman, Richard Poplawski, was convicted of the officers’ murders and sentenced to death on June 28, 2011.

The family’s neighbors said they were angry about the vandalism of the memorial.

“We cannot believe what’s happening,” Iva DiPasquale said. “Why to such a nice family, the things that are happening to them? With Paul, please Lord, give him rest in peace.”

The suspects were spotted in front of the home of Sciullo’s parents. (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police)

Police have released surveillance images of the suspects. Anyone who can help identify the suspects is asked to call Zone 5 Detectives at 412-665-3605.